Trolley-wheel.



No; 735,237. PATENTED AUG. 4-, 1903.

R. & R. W. POX. TROLLBY WHEEL.

APPLICATION P ILEI) MAY 20. 1903.

@Alfergeys No. 735,237. 7 UNITE STATES j RALPH RICHARD W. FOX,

Patented August 4, 1903. PATENT OFFICE.

or PARKERSBURG, wnsr VIRGINIA.

TROLLEY-WH EEL'.

'SPEGIFIGATION formingpart of Letters IPatent N0. 735,23 7,'dated August 4, 1903.

Application filed May 20, 1903- To (bZZ whom it may concern;

Be it knownthat we, RALPH Fox and RICH- ARD W. FOX, citizens of the United States, residing-at Parkersburg, in the county of Wood and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Trolley-Wheel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in trolleys, and has for its principal object to provide an improved form of trolleywheel-supporting harp or fork so arranged as to permit yielding movement of the wheel when the car is traveling around curves.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trolley-wheel support in which the axle or pin of the wheel is carried by blocks having free movement in curved guides, so as to permit the blocks to move independently when the wheel is in contact with a curved or irregular portion of the current-conducting wire, and thus lessen danger of the wheel leaving the wire at such points.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a trolley-wheel and trolley-wheel support constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a harp proper with the trolley-wheel bearing-blocks re-' moved. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the bearing-blocks detached.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The trolley-pole 1 is provided at its upper end with a harp formed of arms 2, said arms being spaced apart for a considerable distance to permit the insertion of a trolley-Wheel between them. Each arm is formed of a pair Serial No: 158,014. (No model.)

of spaced members 3, the opposing walls of which are provided with curved grooves 4, the upper and lower ends of which extend to the inner edges of the arms to permit the entrance thereinto of ribs 5, that extend from the opposite sides of bearing-blocks 6, and after the blocks have been placed in position the cross-bars 7 are arranged at the top of the arms for the purpose of connecting the spaced members and at the same time prevent the accidental movement of the bearing-blocksfrom the guiding-grooves. Each of the bearingblocks 6 is provided with a central opening 8 for the passage of the shaft or pin 9 of the trolley-wheel, and in each block is a ball-race formed partly by the block proper and partly by a removable cap 10, antifriction-balls 11, of suitable size, being inserted in the ball-race to receive and support the shaft or pin 9. The cap-piece and bearing-block are so arranged and constructed as to positively prevent the removal of the balls until the cap is loosened, so that the shaft or pin 9 may be readily removed from position without allowing the balls to escape, thus facilitating repairs.

The shaft or pin 9 is secured to the trolleywheel 11- by a small set-screw 12 or other suitable locking device, and when a worn shaft or trolley is to be renewed it is merely necessary to remove the securing-screw and force the shaft out through the bearing-blocks.

To each of the arms is secured a springplate 13, which bridges across the space between the two members of the arm and serves as a centering means for maintaining the trolley-wheel in proper position, while at the same time allowing such slight lateral play of the wheel as may be necessary in practice. The central portion of each spring-plate is provided with an opening 14 to permit the passage of the shaft 9, the openings being elevated in order to permit vertical play of the. wheel.

In practice the wheel is allowed to play in its curved guiding-slot, and thus materially lessens danger of slipping or jumping of the wheel from the wire.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isa 1. In a device of the class specified, a supporting harp or frame, bearing-blocks carried thereby, a curved rib-and-groove connection between each block and the frame, a shaft supported by the blocks, and a trolley-wheel carried by said shaft.

2. In a device of the class specified, a supporting frame or harp having curved guidinggrooves, bearing-blocks having curved ribs fitting within the grooves, ball-bearings carried by the blocks, a shaft adapted to the ballbearings, and a trolley-wheel carried by the shaft.

3. In a device of the class specified, a supporting frame or harp, bearing-blocks carried by the frame and. movable on curved lines,

spring-plates carried by the harp members and provided each with an elongated opening, a shaft supported by the blocks and extending through the openings, and a trolley-Wheel carried by the shaft.

4. In a device of the class specified, a trolley-pole having a harp provided with curved each block and forming a ball-race in connection with the block, antifriction-balls disposed in the ball-races, a shaft supported by the balls, a trolley-wheel carried by the shaft, and spring-plates carried by the arms of the harp and bearing against the opposite sides of the trolley-wheel.

5. In a device of the class specified, a trolley-harp formed of a pair of arms each comprising spaced members, curved grooves formed in the adjacent faces of the members and terminating at the inner walls of the arms, bearing-blocks having ribs adapted to said grooves, cross-pieces connecting the members and serving to prevent displacement of the blocks, antifriction-balls carried by the blocks, ashaft supported by the balls, a trolley-wheel secured to the shaft, and springplates connecting the members of each arm, each of said plates being provided with an elongated opening surrounding the shaft and permitting vertical playof the sh aft and wheel.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

RALPH FOX. RICHARD W. FOX. Witnesses:

J AM'ES S. MCOLUER, C. D. DOTSON. 

